PAL/RPAL Practical Exam

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mike177

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As such, Im new to this website as well as much of the process that our gov't requires us to complete before we can legally own firearms. That being said, I'm wondering if anyone could tell me what the practical exam covered? I know you need to show that you can handle firearms properly and safely, but are there certain types of guns you need to load etc? I'm familiar with shooting but would just like some clarity before I challenge the exam.

Thanks guys.
 
If I remember correctly you will load the pump action shotgun and eject the rounds other then that you will most likely handle a break action shotgun a lever action gun a bolt action and possibly a semi auto.

Usually it goes something like your at the range the sieze fire command has been given unload all rounds and make safe the pump action shotgun.

Break action is just youve come to a fence and have to cross make it safe set it down cross pick it up and do your acts proves on it.

Then pretty much secure the lever action for home storage, nothing to hard.
 
Good question Mike. This is the part I am a bit concerned about myself in that I have not handled any firearm except my Ruger 10/22.

I hope the course allows for some practice runs with these different types :)
 
Yeah I've read that some of the instructors (id assume most, if not all) provide a lot of hands on time with different types of guns. It would only seem right.
 
The instructors understand that, 'if you are taking your test, you are new to this.' When I took mine I simply said, "I've never handled a shotgun before. I don't really know how to do ____". He showed me. I didn't point the gun at his face. I passed.
 
The practical exam has you handle 3 rifles, load and unload them. You must demonstrate your ACTS and PROVE with each one. You must also demonstrate how cross a fence, cross a stream or enter a vehicle or boat with a rifle. You will also be asked to identify different types of ammo. You will also have to show different shooting positions and carry positions. The last part deals with safe storage.
If at any time, you point the muzzle in an unsafe direction, you fail.
 
Hunt&Hook said:
The practical exam has you handle 3 rifles, load and unload them. You must demonstrate your ACTS and PROVE with each one. You must also demonstrate how cross a fence, cross a stream or enter a vehicle or boat with a rifle. You will also be asked to identify different types of ammo. You will also have to show different shooting positions and carry positions. The last part deals with safe storage.
If at any time, you point the muzzle in an unsafe direction, you fail.
Click to expand...

also remember to prove it save once you put the guns down and use any safeties, i forgot that and ended up with a 88% compared to my 98% on restricted and written tests.
 
If you PROVE a rifle safe and set it down, I don't make you PROVE it safe again when you pick it up if you are the only that has handled it, but that's just me. Other instructors may differ.

If you "talk" yourself through the ACTS and PROVE, it is much easier BTW, and your instructor will also know exactly what you are doing.
(ie)

Assume....Control....Trigger finger...See.....Point....Remove.....Observe.....Verify.....Examine.... as you are physically doing so

Did I mention ACTS and PROVE ?
 
adubbz said:
The instructors understand that, 'if you are taking your test, you are new to this.' When I took mine I simply said, "I've never handled a shotgun before. I don't really know how to do ____". He showed me. I didn't point the gun at his face. I passed.
Click to expand...

If the instructor showed you how some gun works before the test starts, that's fine. If the instructor shows or explains how something works after the start of the test, the instructor is cheating for you.
 
dHb said:
If the instructor showed you how some gun works before the test starts, that's fine. If the instructor shows or explains how something works after the start of the test, the instructor is cheating for you.
Click to expand...

My examiner told me that if I said something like "I want to put the safety on, but I can't figure out how to do it on this particular gun" he'd show me how. I don't think that's cheating; there are so many different designs out there and a novice shooter can't be expected to know them all. It certainly doesn't affect the integrity of the test; the point is that the student knows to put the safety on.
 
It's not an automatic fail if you point the gun in an "unsafe" direction (out of the predetermined safety area), it's a deduction of 2 points. It's only an automatic fail if you point the gun at any human (or part thereof) during the test except when you are doing the visual bore inspection.
DHB is correct, the instructor is not supposed to coach or answer "function" questions during your test. Questions should be asked before you start. Just ask the people who have to be re-tested how they feel about their instuctors who cheated for them so they could have an easy pass!
 
In the test the examiner scores if you attempt to put the safety on, not whether or not you successfully applied the safety. BTW, I wouldn't go hunting with someone who I could only trust to attempt to apply his safety.

The examiners are supposed to read the exam script verbatim. The response to most student's questions should be to repeat the original instruction. Once examiners start assisting students in the practical test by showing/telling them how to do something, it's a pretty slippery slope that can lead to examiners 'helping' to the point that a student can't fail unless they point a gun at their examiner. In this region some 'helpful' examiners seem to routinely undermine the integrity of the testing standards.
 
I'm not sure that slavish adherence to an artificial test procedure is necessarily what we're looking for here, although I can understand that Wendy might want this. In the real world, you know how to operate your particular gun because you got a manual with it (or downloaded one from the manufacturer's website), or the guy who lent it to you showed you how to use it. You'd never have an occasion to pick up a strange gun and try to fumble your way to learning its operation.

I agree though, that the best thing is for the examiner to show the student how to use all the firearms on the table, before the test starts. My examiner actually taught me a thing or two about the 100-year-old cowboy gun he dug up for my test.
 
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